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Yam noodles were produced by replacing high-gluten wheat flour with yam flour modified with plasma-activated water and twin-screw extrusion (PAW-TSE). The effects of varying amounts of modified yam flour on the color, cooking characteristics, texture, and in vitro digestibility of the noodles were investigated. As the amount of modified yam flour increased, the noodles became darker in color, while the bound water content increased, and the free water content decreased. The modified yam flour also affected the cooking properties, reducing the optimal cooking time, decreasing the water absorption, and increasing the cooking loss. Textural analysis revealed that the addition of modified yam flour improved the texture of raw noodles, enhancing their elasticity and chewiness after cooking, thus providing a better eating experience. Furthermore, the modified yam flour increased the resistant starch content, thereby enhancing the nutritional value of the noodles. These findings provide valuable insights for food manufacturers seeking to develop healthier and more appealing noodle products, potentially leading to greater consumer acceptance and market success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present investigation, fresh purple yam slices were blanched in hot water (80 °C) for 8–10 min, followed by drying under a cabinet dryer at 45, 55 and 65 °C, and open sunlight. This research aimed at comparing the drying kinetics, nutritional profile, functional properties, sensory characteristics and microbial stability of purple yam. The drying temperature of 45 °C was suggested to retain the quality of dried purple yam in terms of physical properties, sensory qualities, nutritional content: proximate compositions and functional properties: swelling capacity and bulk density. In comparison to other treatments, drying at 65 °C produced the fastest drying of slices. Moreover, the anti-oxidant activity, phenolic and flavonoid contents and water and oil absorption capacity increased with temperature rise. The study found that purple yam dried in a cabinet dryer had better microbial stability than those dried under open sunlight. The drying kinetics was calculated using Newton, Page, Henderson and Pabis, Logarithmic and Two-term models. Among them, the Page model was the best-fit model to explain the drying kinetics of purple yam for all treatments. This study on comparing drying treatments for purple yam will improve the science of drying purple yam in both controlled and uncontrolled conditions, enhancing quality retention and shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phytochemical investigation of the aqueous methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Dioscorea preussii, led to the isolation of a new chalcone preussiate (1) along with 10 other compounds including xanthomicrol (2), cholestan-3-one (3), arjunolic acid (4), tormentic acid (5), ursolic acid (6), betulin (7), lupeol (8), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (9), isovanillin (10) and vanillic acid (11), being reported for the first time from this plant. Their structures were established by spectroscopic techniques including 2D NMR spectroscopy. All the isolates were subjected to the biological screening but only showed antioxidant and urease inhibitory properties. The compounds 1,8 and 11 displayed the most potent urease inhibitory properties with IC50 values, 22.4, 33.3 and 35.7 µM, respectively, while 3 was moderately active. The compound 11 showed potent antioxidant activity among all the tested isolates with an IC50 value of 45.3 µM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The ultra-high pressure (UHP) pretreatment combined with hot air drying (HAD) process of Chinese yam (CY) was established and optimized in this study, in order to shorten the drying time of CY and improve its quality. Methods: The drying time, rehydration ratio (RR), color difference value, polysaccharide and total phenol content (TPC) were used as indicators to investigate the effects of different UHP pressure, holding time and drying temperature conditions on CY processing by single factor experiment, the weight coefficient of five indicators and the comprehensive score under different conditions were calculated by the CRITIC method, using the comprehensive score as the response value to optimize the processing technology of UHP pretreatment combined with HAD by response surface methodology. Results: UHP pretreatment could significantly shorten the drying time (P<0.05) and improve the quality of CY. The weights of drying time, RR, TPC, color difference value and polysaccharide content of CY were 0.34, 0.19, 0.19, 0.14 and 0.14, respectively. The optimal process parameters were determined as follows: Pressure 380 MPa, holding time 9 minutes, drying temperature 50 °C. Under these conditions, the results of the validation experiment for each indicator were drying time of 400±17.32 min, RR of 2.18±0.04 g/g, color difference value of 6.02±0.18, polysaccharide content of 78.08± 1.33 mg/g, TPC of 2.77±0.16 mg/g, and comprehensive score of 74.75±2.40. The relative standard deviation (RSD) between the validation result and the predicted value was 2.71%, indicating that the model had good predictability. Conclusion: This study established an efficient and energy-saving UHP-HAD drying process of CY, which would provide new ideas for the standardized research and application of CY processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global genepool conservation and use strategy for yam were developed in this study. Diversity analysis, and in situ and ex situ conservation gap analyses were carried out for the 27 global priority yam crop wild relatives (CWR) at taxon and ecogeographic levels to determine their representativeness in conservation actions. Hotspots were found in Nzerekore region of Guinea, Nimba and Grand Gedeh regions of Liberia, Montagnes, Sassandra- Marahouse, and Bas – Sassandra regions of Cote d'Ivoire, Volta, Greater Accra and Eastern regions of Ghana, Centrale and Plateau regions of Togo, Donga, Oueme, Atlantique, Littoral and Plateau provinces of Benin, Southwest zone of Nigeria, Es region of Cameroon, Sangha- Mbaere region of Central Africa Republic. Likouala and Sangha regions of the Republic of the Congo, Northeast of India, Northern, Central, Western, Eastern and Northeast regions of Thailand, West of Cambodia, South Central Coast, Central Highlands, Southeast and Makong River Delta regions of Vietnam, Xaisomboun, Bolikhamxai, and Viangchan prefecture provinces of Lao People's Democratic Republic. A total of 13 potential reserve sites were identified in 13 countries, with four locations in the network of protected area (PA). 22 priority CWR (81%) were conserved ex situ, but only 15.38% of the taxa had at least 50 accessions in genebanks, and 65.38% of the priority CWR are underrepresented in genebanks, and 19.23% of the species are not represented in ex situ collections. The findings and recommendations of this study will guide the production and implementation of effective long-term conservation action and sustainable utilization of global priority yam CWR. The active conservation of the global yam priority species will underpin food security and mitigate climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceratozamia chinantlensis sp. nov., a new cliff-dwelling cycad species from Sierra de La Chinantla, Oaxaca, Mexico, is described and compared with its congeners. The species is morphologically similar to Ceratozamia zoquorum and Ceratozamia santillanii, two geographically distant species, yet it is effortlessly distinguishable from its most proximally geographic congeners. Ceratozamia chinantlensis can be recognized based on several qualitative traits, such as its very coriaceous, long, linear to oblanceolate leaflets. Also, it has bronze-colored emerging leaves and mature leaves with articulations of a light copper color. Compared with C. zoquorum and C. santillanii, C. chinantlensis has significantly longer and wider leaflets. C. chinantlensis should be considered a critically threatened species due to its limited number of populations and individuals. Habitat destruction—historically through the extraction of Dioscorea mexicana and Vanilla planifolia, along with ongoing coffee and corn plantations—is an ongoing threat that narrows its distribution range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The white grub, Diaprepes abbreviatus L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a significant pest of yam tubers and the second cause of tuber rot in Haiti. Larval feeding inflicts severe damage to tubers, leading to notable losses due to decreased tuber quality, reduced marketability and increased susceptibility to secondary parasites and pathogens. This study examined the influence of planting and harvesting dates on the vulnerability of yam tubers to white grub infestation and the resulting tuber quality across 24 farmers' fields. At harvest, we assessed the level of tuber infestation, white grub density and the tuber quality index. The results indicated that 85% of grub populations were found in fields planted on the traditional date. In addition, 69.5% of tuber damage occurred in early‐planted fields with fewer tubers damaged (30%) when harvested early. In contrast, in fields planted 30 days after the traditional date, the harvest date did not affect tuber infestation and damage by the pest. Overall, both planting and harvest dates impacted the quality grade of yam tubers. Delayed planting by 30 days and early harvesting (34th–38th week after planting) improved the marketability of yams. These findings highlight the importance of optimising planting and harvest schedules to better manage white grub infestation and enhance the marketability of yam tubers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nutritional value and medicinal properties of highly edible Bulbils of Dioscorea bulbifera L are still unexplored. This study reported the nutritional and medicinal values by In vitro, and In silico studies along with chemical profiling using LC-MS. The proximate analysis was conducted by the AOAC method. The antioxidant and antidiabetic activities were assessed using DPPH and α- α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition assay. Molecular docking was used to do an In silico examination of the identified molecules, and ADMET analysis of the hit candidate was also performed. The result showed that bulbils of D. bulbifera were found to have a higher percentage of protein (8.83%), fat (0.96%), and fiber (5.40%). It exhibited significant levels of phenolic and flavonoid content 106.93 ± 0.02 mg GAE/g and 11.51 ± 0.02 mg QE/g, respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction of D. bulbifera showed potent antioxidants with an IC 50 = 13.75 ± 0.6 μg/mL. Furthermore, the methanol extract showed more than 50 % inhibition activity with IC 50 values of 26.29 ± 0.6 μg/mL and 191.2 ± 0.7 μg/mL against α-glucosidase and α-amylase, respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction showed higher α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activity with an IC 50 of 14.42 ± 0.4 μg/mL and 171.5 ± 0.4 μg/mL, respectively, compared to the standard acarbose (p < 0.05). Chemical profiling of most bio-active ethyl acetate fraction was done using LC-MS analysis, where eleven compounds were annotated. In conclusion, bulbils of D. bulbifera demonstrate promising anti-diabetic activity through In vitro and In silico studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gadung starch has limitations in several functional properties and thermal stability. Modifying starch through temperature treatments such as Freeze Moisture Treatment (FMT) and Heat Moisture Treatment (HMT) potentially improves these weaknesses. This research aimed to determine the effects of FMT and HMT on the functional, pasting, and physicochemical properties of gadung starch. This study consisted of a variety of treatments, namely native starch, FMT, HMT 100°C, HMT 110°C, FMT + HMT 100°C, and FMT + HMT 110°C. The results showed that FMT and HMT treatments significantly affected the functional, pasting, and physicochemical properties of gadung starch. The combination modification treatment of FMT + HMT 110°C increased swelling volume by 1.44 times, and water absorption capacity increased by 1.37 times. This was confirmed by the formation of porous and amorphous starch granules. Modified starch also had the best heat stability, as indicated by a low breakdown viscosity of 31.00 ± 9.90 cP. FMT+HMT110°C modified treatment was the best treatment because it had more pores, cracks, and higher swelling volume. The starch crystallinity index of modified starch decreased from 35.75 to 31.58 and changed the crystallinity type from B-type to A-type. The starch modification did not cause changes in functional groups but reduced crystallinity as indicated by the smaller ratio of the bands at 1045/1022 and the higher ratio at 1022/995 from FTIR spectra. Thus, FMT and HMT could effectively improve the characteristics of gadung starch by forming heat-stable amorphous starch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the genetic potential of the early generation families of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) for growth and yield traits became this study's aim. The experiment began in 2021 at the Njala Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Njala, Sierra Leone. The results revealed the yam families significantly (P < 0.05) varied for days to first emergence (DAYFE), days to 50% emergence (DAYSE), germination index (GI), seedling vigor index (SVI), and the number of tubers per plant. The Family TDr190016 germinated earliest (14.5 days); however, families TDr190053 and TDr190113 exhibited the longest germination period (> 20 days). Traits with high phenotypic (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) were germination index, seedling vigor index, percent seed emergence at 21 and 28 days after sowing, and pooled percent seed emergence (PSE). Broad sense heritability (HB) values ranged between 21.5% (pooled PSE) and 92.1% (SVI). Traits with the high broad sense heritability were days to 50% emergence (83.2%), germination index (74.6%), seedling vigor index (92.1%), percent seed emergence at 21 days (80.0%), and percent seed emergence at 28 days (62.8%). The yam families revealed the higher genetic advance for almost all traits except days to first emergence. In terms of various traits, the genetic effects of the early generation white yam families contributed more to the total phenotypic variability than the non-genetic effects, requiring more exploration for breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yam belongs to a very diverse plant genus (Dioscorea L.) that includes more than 600 species, both wild and cultivated. In Cuba, different species are distributed in the central and eastern regions, where the most widespread cultivars belong to the species water yam (Dioscorea alata L.) and white yam (Dioscorea cayenensis subsp. rotundata (Poir.) J. Miège). The major constraints faced by yam production areas are those caused by viral diseases. In this sense, potyviruses have the greatest economic impact, since they can cause losses of more than 50% in agricultural yields. The movement of propagules between plantations without phytosanitary certification has facilitated the spread of viruses throughout the production areas. Understanding the relationships between the host, virus, vector, and ecosystem is fundamental for successful disease management and for increasing agricultural yields. The objective of the present work was to determine the effect of using virus-free planting material and plantain barriers on the production of two yam cultivars. For this purpose, potyvirus-free certified and non-certified planting material were evaluated inside and outside a live barrier based on plantain 'Burro CEMSA'. The virus incidence and production of these plants were determined in each of the experiments conducted. It was possible to reduce the field incidence of viral diseases (average infection decreased from 60 to 15%). The barrier also prevented yield losses of 50–57% for both cultivars, compared to the farmer's usual practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vertical yam pounding machine having a similar operational principle to the traditional method of pounding was developed. The machine consists of a shaft, pulleys, V-belts, bearings, an electric motor, a vertical pounder, a gear train and a pounding bowl. White yam was used to carry out a performance evaluation of the developed machine compared to a commercial yam pounder QASA® (LBQ041A, made in China) yam pounding machine and pounded yam from the traditional method of using mortar and pestle. It was observed that the traditional pounding operation, the developed and the QASA® yam pounding machines gave 89.73, 96.24 and 98.25% of well-pounded yam excluding lumps. However, the QASA® yam pounding machine is limited to a maximum of 4 kg mass of boiled yam. The average throughputs of the traditional pounding operation, the developed and the QASA® yam pounding machines were 20.3, 39.46 and 47.34 kg/h, while pounding times were 18 min, 10 min, and 5 min respectively. The developed machine had comparable quality with similar sensory scores with regards to the taste, aroma, stretchability, and mouldability to the one from the traditional method. It also had a comparative long-life span, and overall acceptability score and was preferred over the pounded yam produced by QASA® pounding machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document "Thank you to our 2024 reviewers" from the journal Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics expresses gratitude to the reviewers who contributed to Volume 44. The reviewers are acknowledged for their selfless dedication and high-quality work, which is essential for maintaining peer-reviewed journals. Exceptional reviewers were also recognized for their outstanding contributions. The list of reviewers for Volume 44 is provided, showcasing the diverse range of individuals who participated in the review process. [Extracted from the article]

The "Author Index" from the journal "Respirology" features a diverse array of authors and their abstract codes for research presentations, reflecting the global nature of respiratory research. This document serves as a valuable resource for library patrons interested in respiratory topics, showcasing the collaborative efforts of researchers worldwide. The index includes a wide range of names and codes, likely representing individuals in an academic or research database, with entries reflecting diverse cultural backgrounds. [Extracted from the article]

Composites of Polychloroprene rubber (CR, Neoprene rubber) reinforced with starch from non-edible variety of dioscorea tuber were prepared using three different vulcanizing systems. The cure, mechanical, solvent resistance and biodegradable characteristics of the composites were studied. The addition of starch from dioscorea tuber was found to improve CR's tensile strength. The maximum torque value increases with the loading of filler and it was found to be the highest at 20 phr. The addition of starch from dioscorea tuber was found to improve CR's tensile strength and highest value observed at 20 phr. Among the different curing systems studied, the modified DCP system shows maximum mechanical properties, optimum properties of the composites are at 20 phr. The values of the swelling coefficients were determined by examining the intake of the solvents N, N-dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide and water by the composites. The soil burial test indicated that biodegradability of CR enhanced with the addition of starch. The findings of mechanical properties are supported by studies using scanning electron microscopy. Since starch is a naturally occurring biopolymer, adding it encourages microbial activity, which breaks down the composite components. This quality is essential for resolving plastic waste-related environmental issues. It is anticipated that the findings of this study will aid in the development of materials for specific product applications like gasoline hoses, tire sidewalls, seals, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on endophytes is focused on understanding the complex microbiome compositions, their interactions with host plants and their bioactive potential. Our study provided an overview of the diversity, distribution and bioactivities of culturable endophytic fungi associated with fungal endophytes of Dioscorea bulbifera L. The phylogenetic analysis depicted the evolutionary relationship among taxa of endophytic fungal isolates. The isolated fungal endophytes belonged to twenty-five genera and thirty-eight species. Further, diversity indices demonstrated significant diversity of fungal endophytes in the different tissues: stem, leaf, tuber and bulbil. A higher consistency of endophytic fungal isolates in the bulbils was found using Shannon index. Furthermore, Simpson's index revealed that the leaf tissue harboured highly diverse fungal endophytes. Likewise, Margalef's index depicted high taxonomic richness in bulbils. The isolates such as Acrocalymma medicaginis, Curvularia lycoperscii, Talaromyces macrospora, Fusarium laceratum, Paecilomyces formosus and Microascus cirrosus isolated in this study have been reported as endophytes for the first time from any plant. In-vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of the ethyl acetate extracts revealed that Nigrospora oryzae (Z2) effectively inhibited α-glucosidase activity with IC 50 value of 0.6 µg/ml whereas IC 50 value of the acarbose, the positive control was reported to be 0.040 µg/ml. The results of antioxidant activity demonstrated that H15A (Acrocalymma medicaginis) and BD5 (Phomopsis longicolla) could be used as potential sources of antioxidant agents. Moreover, H15A (Acrocalymma medicaginis) was reported to produce 687.1 ± 0.17 µg GAE/mg of TPC and 78.55 ± 0.29 µg QE/mg of TFC quantitatively. These findings suggest that the potential endophytes could be explored using systematic bio-guided investigations to further discover novel natural products. Our study provides an important resource for a deeper understanding of endophyte-plant interactions at molecular and genetic levels. [Display omitted] • First report on the exploration of the culturable fungal endophytes from Dioscorea bulbifera L., an essential ethnomedicinal plant. • The isolated endophytic fungi showed abundant diversity in various tissues of the plant. • Six fungal endophytes obtained in this study have been reported as endophytes for the first time. • Nigrospora oryzae (Z2) exhibited potential α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. • Acrocalymma medicaginis (H15A) could be used as a potential source of antioxidant agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Pounded yam is the most popular traditional yam food product in West Africa, especially Nigeria. Development of a motorized yam pounder is a step towards minimizing intensive human labor, usually involved in the process of preparing pounded yam, while still preserving nutrients and flavor. The machine that has been designed comprises a shaft, blades, 1 HP electric motor, pulley system, cooking and pounding chambers and support frame. The components were carefully selected, fabricated and assembled. Experimental runs were conducted to evaluate the performance of the machine by pounding some weighted quantities of cooked yam. The results showed that it took the machine an average of 34 minutes to cook 0.62 kg of yam and 40 seconds to produce hot and smooth textured pounded yam. The pounded yam produced by this machine is of better quality when compared with the traditional or manual method. It can thus be concluded that the machine performed efficiently and effectively, and minimized labor requirements, when compared with the manual method of preparing pounded yam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Fermentation Industries is the property of Food & Fermentation Industries and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Antimicrobial films represent advancement in biodegradable active packaging, aimed at limiting microbial growth on food surfaces. This study focused on creating an antimicrobial film using elephant foot yam starch (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius) and basil extracts, evaluating its effectiveness against Salmonella sp, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella and Escherichia coli. A solution containing yam starch and glycerol was gelatinized, with basil extracts added at concentrations of 0.4%, 0.8% and 1.2%. Films incorporating these extracts were produced via the casting method. The antimicrobial efficacy varied with basil concentration, indicating maximum bactericidal activity against all tested bacteria at 0.8%. The resulting films exhibited favorable flexibility and appearance, with reduced moisture content 24.59%, decreased solubility 25.48%. SEM revealed strong intermolecular interactions among its components. FTIR spectra indicated interactions and improved compatibility between the film-forming components. Hence, the developed film has potential as eco-friendly, antimicrobial biobased packaging for food applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foshou yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.), cultivated as a vegetable in the region of eastern Hubei Province, China, is a nutritious delicacy. Polysaccharides in the genus Dioscorea play important roles in health-promoting activities. Previous extraction methods used to obtain polysaccharides from Foshou yam (FYP) included water and enzymes, but not alkali conditions. The extraction methods greatly influenced the structure and biological properties of polysaccharides. Hence, in the present work, the alkali extraction of FYP was explored and optimised using the response surface method. The characterisation and antioxidant activity of FYP were also investigated. The results showed that the optimal extraction conditions were as follows: sodium hydroxide concentration, 1.0 mol/L; extraction time, 8 h; and solvent-to-material ratio, 10 mL/g. Under these conditions, the FYP extraction yield was 64.52 ± 0.23%. FYP contained 91.70% of the total sugar with a minimal amount of protein. FT-IR analysis revealed the presence of α-D-glucopyranose in FYP. Congo Red tests indicated that the triple helical conformation in FYP did not exist. In addition, in vitro antioxidant activity experiments revealed that FYP exhibited good scavenging capacity on DPPH and superoxide anion free radicals. These results indicated that the FYP can be used as a novel natural antioxidant in the functional food industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science & Technology / Zhongguo Shipin Xuebao is the property of Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science & Technology Periodical Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The effects of waterlogging on Chinese yam tuber malformation development in directional trough were studied by setting waterlogging treatments. The results showed that the soil in directional trough was close to saturated moisture for a long time and the yam tuber malformation and decay were induced without timely drainage after waterlogging. The longer the waterlogging treatment time, the more serious the tuber malformation and decay. Waterlogging may induce the formation of tuber malformation by significantly increasing the contents of auxin (IAA) and gibberellin (GA3) in the tuber. Waterlogging also significantly reduced the contents of starch, crude protein and saponins in tuber, thus decreased the function and nutritional quality of Chinese yam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Potyvirus diseases are one of the main challenges facing the production of yam (Dioscorea spp.). The objective of this study was to identify the potyviruses present in the Dioscorea spp. germplasm collection at Instituto de Investigaciones de Viandas Tropicales (INIVIT) to establish methodologies for the characterization of the associated diseases. For this purpose, immunochemical and molecular methods were used to identify the potyviruses present. The symptomatology of Dioscorea spp. at INIVIT's germplasm collection was described. In addition, the severity and incidence in the germplasm collection and production areas were evaluated. As a result, the first report of yam mosaic virus (Potyvirus yamtesselati) and yam mild mosaic virus (Potyvirus yamplacidum) in Cuba is presented. The existence of resistant, tolerant, and susceptible cultivars to potyvirus-associated diseases in the germplasm collection was detected, and the incidence of these diseases was higher than 64% in the production areas evaluated. This study represents a step forward in the establishment of certification programs for propagating material of Dioscorea spp. in Cuba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a main staple tuber crop in Nigeria and the West African region. Its performance is determined by genotypes and also the environment of growth. This study assessed the agronomic performance and yield stability of elite white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) genotypes across diverse Nigerian environments. A total of 25 genotypes were evaluated at three locations in two consecutive growing seasons, 2022 and 2023, for fresh tuber yield, disease resistance, and tuber quality traits. The genotype's performance and stability for the measured traits were assessed using various analytical tools such as additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and multi-trait stability index (MTSI). The AMMI analysis revealed significant differences among the genotypes and across the environments for all traits (p < 0.001, p < 0.01). The PCA revealed that the first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) explained a substantial portion of the total variation (49.84%). The MTSI identified four clones: G18, G19, G24, and G16 as promising candidates for improved yam production in Nigeria with high and stable performance for the multiple traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of research. Dioscorea is one of the most important tuberous crops worldwide and is highly diverse across tropical and subtropical forests. Time-calibrated phylogenies and biogeographic reconstructions based on hypotheses derived solely from data on extant plants have suggested an east Laurasian origin during the Late Cretaceous to Eocene. However, the origin of the genus remains poorly understood because of the lack of unambiguous early Paleogene fossils. Methodology. Well-preserved capsular fin-winged fruits with three wings, crowned by epigynous stigmatic remnants with in situ seeds, from the early Eocene Fossil Butte Member of the Green River Formation in Fossil Lake Basin (of southwestern Wyoming) are described. The new fossils were photographed with reflected light and fluorescence microscopy and were compared with living Dioscoreaceae fruits. Pivotal results. These fossils can be placed confidently in Dioscorea (Dioscoreaceae), and they are recognized as two new species: Dioscorea lindgrenii Herrera et Manchester sp. nov. and Dioscorea shermanii Herrera et Manchester sp. nov. Conclusions. These new early Eocene Dioscorea species enrich our understanding of the climbing elements of the Butte Member flora of Fossil Lake. They also document the long history of the genus in subtropical early Eocene forests and support a potential origin of Dioscorea in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop disease often leads to field epidemics with serious threats to yield. Early symptoms are sometimes difficult to identify, so the origin of primary inoculum is a critical focal point in the study of plant diseases, as it can help design management strategies to reduce crop losses. Here, we investigated whether anthracnose of water yams (Dioscorea alata L.) caused by the species complex Colletotrichum gloeosporioides can start from infected seed tubers from the previous harvest. Over two years, we collected tubers with varying pathogen prevalence in the field directly from producers and conducted fungal isolations in the lab to sample C. gloeosporioides. We also proceeded to artificially inoculate tubers before planting and monitored disease development. Finally, we genotyped isolates from leaves in the fields and assessed fixation indices between plots based on plot ownership (plots with a common seed tuber origin from a single farmer) vs. samples in plots from unrelated producers in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Barbados. We were unable to isolate the fungus from harvested tubers in either sampling survey nor did any plants grown from inoculated tubers develop any disease symptoms during growth. Also, the genetic structure of samples within each plot was independent of plot ownership, though this occurred with varying levels in the different islands. These results suggest that contaminated planting material from seed tubers is not the primary source of the disease, which is in contrast to the common perception of yam anthracnose prevalence in the Antilles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of allergic diseases worldwide is rising dramatically in both developed and developing countries. Dioscorea alata (DA) contains flavonoids and saponin steroid which have potential as anti-allergic agents. This research aims to examine the anti-allergy potential of the ethanol extract of Dioscorea alata (EEDA) through IgE and IgG1 levels and to investigate the bioactivity of the phytocompound of hexane extract of D. alata (HEDA) in silico. Allergy-induced BALB/c mice used Ovalbumin and were treated with EEDA for 30 days. The levels of B220IgE and B220IgG1 were evaluated. In silico analysis was conducted with HEDA, phytocompound from previous research, 3D structure from PubChem (https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/), Chemspider (http://www.chemspi-der.com/), Bioactivity analysis on Molinspiration (https://www.molinspiration.com/), PassOnline (http://www. way2drug.com/passonline/predict.php) webservers, target proteins from SwissTarget (http:// www.swisstargetprediction.ch/), STRING (https://string-db.org/), and analyzed with Cytoscape ver 3.9.1. The docking analysis utilizes Vina, a built-in tool in PyRx 0.9, and the results are visualized using Biovia Discovery Studio. B220IgE and B220IgG1 levels decreased in the EEDA treatment significantly (p<0,05). The bioactivity predictions showed the activity of enzyme inhibitors, anti-inflammation agents, and cholesterol antagonists. Clionasterol, 9,12-octadecadienoic, and triosanol-1 are the phytocompounds with the highest average bioactivity scores. PSEN1, NR1C1, MAPK14, PTGS2, NR1C2, F2, FABP1, KDR, CNR1, and UGT2B7 are target proteins. Molecular docking results showed that clionasterol had the lowest average binding energy, followed by caryophyllene oxide and 11-pentan-3-ylhenicosane. Clionasterol had a high potential to interact with PPAR-α, PPAR-γ, and MAPK14 as an inhibitor. There was a decrease in B220IgE and B220IgG1 levels in mice given EEDA. Furthermore, Clionasterol could potentially inhibit PPAR and MAPK14, potentially leading to anti-inflammatory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Amylose, a prebiotic found in yams is known to be beneficial for the gut microflora and is particularly advantageous for diabetic patients’ diet. However, the genetic machinery underlying amylose production remains elusive. A comprehensive characterization of the genetic basis of amylose content in yam tubers is a prerequisite for accelerating the genetic engineering of yams with respect to amylose content variation. Results To uncover the genetic variants underlying variation in amylose content, we evaluated amylose content in freshly harvested tubers from 150 accessions of Dioscorea zingibensis. With 30,000 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), we performed a genome-wide association analysis (GWAS). The population structure analysis classified the D. zingiberensis accessions into three groups. A total of 115 significant loci were detected on four chromosomes. Of these, 112 significant SNPs (log10(p) = 5, q-value

Dioscorea bulbifera is an edible yam specie with aerial bulbils. Assessing the genetic diversity of D. bulbifera accession for cultivation and breeding purposes is essential for it genetic improvement, especially where the crop faces minimal attention. The aims of this study was to assess the genetic diversity of Dioscorea bulbifera accessions collected from Nigeria and accessions maintained at the genebank of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan. Accessions were profiled using quatitative and qualitative phenotypic traits and Diversity Array Technology SNP-markers. Multivariate analysis based phenotypic traits revealed high variability among the evaluated accessions and all phenotypic traits assessed were useful in discriminating the aerial yam accessions. Clustering analysis based phenotypic traits revealed the presence of two well defined clusters. Using DArT-Seq marker, the 94 accessions were classified into three genetic group through the admixture and the phylogeny analysis. The comparision of phenotypic and genotypic clustering revealed inconsistency membership across the two clustering methods. The study established a baseline for the selection of parental lines from the genetic groups for genetic improvement of the D. bulbifera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya, DP) is promising for the food and pharmaceutical industries due to its nutritional value and pharmaceutical potential. Its proper cultivation is therefore of interest. An insufficient supply of minerals necessary for plant growth can be manifested by discoloration of the leaves. In our earlier study, magnesium deficiency was excluded as a cause. As a follow-up, this work focused on manganese and molybdenum. To quantify both minerals in leaf extracts of DP, analytical methods based on atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) using the graphite furnace sub-technique were devised. The development revealed that the quantification of manganese works best without using any of the investigated modifiers. The optimized pyrolysis and atomization temperatures were 1300 °C and 1800 °C, respectively. For the analysis of molybdenum, calcium proved to be advantageous as a modifier. The optimum temperatures were 1900 °C and 2800 °C, respectively. Both methods showed satisfactory linearity for analysis. Thus, they were applied to quantify extracts from normal and discolored leaves of DP concerning the two minerals. It was found that discolored leaves had higher manganese levels and a lower molybdenum content. With these results, a potential explanation for the discoloration could be found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigation of extracts from bulbils of Dioscorea bulbifera L. yielded two new norclerodane diterpenoids, diosbulbin N acetate (1) and epi-diosbulbin B (3), together with eleven known compounds. Their structures were established based on spectroscopy. The absolute configurations of 1 and diosbulbin B (2) were determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis using Cu Kα radiation. The absolute configuration of 3 was determined by comparison of its ECD spectrum to that of 2. Isolated phenanthrenes 7, 9 and 10 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against the HelaS3 cell line with IC50 values of 9.03 ± 0.04, 27.13 ± 6.86 and 10.88 ± 2.75 µM, respectively. In addition, 7-9 and 11 showed potent inhibition of NO production by LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thailand is globally recognized for its rich biodiversity, a characteristic that extends to the diverse species of indigenous yams within the Dioscorea spp. genus. With the energy crisis, the selection of agricultural materials for ethanol production to replace the use of economic crops is therefore necessary. This research focuses on six specific yam varieties: Amorphophallus konjac, Colocasia esculenta, Dioscorea bulbifera, Dioscorea alata, Dioscorea hispida, and Dioscorea esculenta. The primary objective is to investigate their bioethanol productivity through the implementation of a separate hydrolysis and fermentation process, with the broader aim of contributing to the potential preservation of these invaluable indigenous yam species. Initiating the study, the experimental samples underwent hydrolysis by alpha-amylase enzyme (1% w/winitial starch) for 180 min, followed by glucoamylase enzyme (1% w/winitial starch) for an additional 72 h. Post the initial hydrolysis, the detection of small molecule sugars by high-performance liquid chromatography, revealed a range of 14.49 ± 1.10 to 28.89 ± 0.03 gtotal sugar/L, with maltose emerging as the predominant sugar compound. Subsequent to the second hydrolysis, it was observed that maltose and starch residues across all six samples underwent successful digestion. The peak glucose productivity was attained at the 12-h mark post-glucoamylase hydrolysis. Among the diverse yam varieties under examination, Dioscorea hispida exhibited the highest glucose production, showcasing a hydrolysis efficiency of 62.53 ± 2.08%. Following the fermentation process with S. cerevisiae, the optimal fermentation time was identified as 72 h, at which point all available glucose in the hydrolysate was fully utilized. The bioethanol productivity spanned from 32.31 ± 3.40 to 43.66 ± 0.02 g/L, with Dioscorea hispida demonstrating the highest ethanol productivity at 0.61 ± 0.00 g/L/h, and a yield of 0.42 ± 0.01gEtOH/gGlucose. These findings underscore the potential of Dioscorea hispida as a promising contributor to bioethanol production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Dioscorea opposita Thunb. cv. Tiegun maturity (DM) is an important factor influencing its quality. However, there are few studies on the impact of harvest time on its maturation. In the present study, a NMR‐based metabolomics approach was applied to investigate the dynamic metabolic changes of D. opposita Thunb. cv. Tiegun at six different harvest stages: stage 1 (S1), stage 2 (S2), Stage 3 (S3), stage 4 (S4), stage 5 (S5) and stage 6 (S6). RESULTS: Principal component analysis showed distinct segregation of samples obtained from S1, S2 and S3 compared to those derived from S4, S5 and S6. Interestingly, these samples from the two periods were obtained before and after frost, indicating that frost descent might be important for DM. Eight differential metabolites responsible for good separation of different groups were identified by the principal component analysis loading plot and partial least squares‐discriminant analysis. In addition, quantitative analysis of these metabolites using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry determined the effects of harvest time on these metabolite contents, two of which, sucrose and allantoin, were considered as potential biomarkers to determine DM. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that NMR‐based metabolomics approach could serve as a powerful tool to identify differential metabolites during harvesting processes, also offering a fresh insight into understanding the DM and the potential mechanism of quality formation. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The aim of this study was to create gluten‐free chiffon cakes by replacing wheat flour with rice flour (100%, 90% and 70% w/w) and adding yam (0%–30%). The effect of yam's water‐soluble fibre on cake batter properties was studied, including batter density, specific volume, colour, texture, moisture content, water activity and volatile compounds. Results revealed that yam addition decreased crumb lightness value, crust brown index and batter density. Batter viscosity and cake specific volume increased with yam levels, with the optimal amount being 10%. Specific volume decreased at a yam addition of 30%. Twenty‐four compounds were identified in gluten‐free chiffon cake with 10% yam addition (10Y). 1‐Octen‐3‐ol was the primary contributor, accounting for 89.9% odour activity value (OAV) of the aroma with a fruity, buttery, and mushroom odour, attributed to its low threshold. In addition, aldehyde compounds including hexanal, 3‐methylbutanal, 2‐methylbutanal, pentanal, 2‐methylpropanal, nonanal, octanal and heptanal, accounting for 9% of OAV, had high perception thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yam (Dioscorea sp.) is an important staple crop for millions of smallholder farmers in West Africa. In this study, we aimed to develop an efficient indirect plant regeneration system for three important yam genotypes "Kukrupa," "Mankrong Pona" and "Matches." The potential of leaf primordia, petioles and axillary bud explants for callus induction on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations (0, 3, 5, 7 and 9 mg/l) of 2,4-dicholorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) or picloram were tested. Callus induction was influenced by auxin concentration as well as explant. The highest callus induction was achieved using leaf primordia ("Kukrupa" and "Mankrong Pona") explants on 3 mg/l picloram or axillary buds ("Matches") on 5 mg/l picloram. Transfer of callus to 6-benzylaminoapurine (BAP) amended medium resulted in the formation of at least two shoots per callus clump. Plantlets were obtained on basic yam medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/l 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 3 mg/l kinetin and 0.5 mg/l BAP after four weeks. Post acclimatization plantlet survival was high (75 − 82.5%). The indirect plant regeneration protocol reported through this study helps in the improvement of important yam genotypes through tissue culture-oriented genome editing, in vitro mutagenesis and also for its mass propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.) is an important tree species in agroforestry systems in West Africa and shea nuts constitute a fundamental resource for rural livelihoods in this area. This study investigated the sustainability and interactions in agroforestry systems of shea trees around the village Nakpalli in Northern Ghana. The focus of the study was the population structures and densities of shea trees on different land types, below-canopy microclimate and co-cultivation of yams (Dioscorea rotundata (Poir.) J. Miége) under shea tree canopies, and water stress of the trees in the driest season. Shea tree populations are overall well-conserved in this area, but Weibull-distributions of the tree populations and quantification of seedlings showed a lower tree density in both cultivated and fallowed lands, as compared to undisturbed bushlands. Although farmers may deliberately manage the density of larger trees, the low densities of seedlings and saplings indicate that intensified management practices, including shortened fallow periods and intentional clearing of land by fire before sowing, might negatively affect the long-term regeneration of the shea trees. Co-cultivation of yams below shea tree canopies allowed production of 11.5 t/ha as compared to 20.8 t/ha at open field conditions. The lower yields may have been caused by an almost 74% reduction of photosynthetically active radiation below canopies, relative to outside the canopies. Shea trees in the fields, fallows and bushlands had close-to-zero predawn leaf water potentials, indicating low water stress, even in the middle of the dry season. Thus, shea trees are both well-adapted and highly valued in this area, which underlines the importance of conserving this indigenous tree species in the agroforestry systems of northern Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White Guinea yam is a tuber crop characterized by a long growth period over the entire rainy season, which is affected by changes in rainfall patterns owing to climate change. In this study, we investigated the effects of shifting the planting date of yam seed tubers on shoot growth and tuber development, which could be a plausible measure for adapting to changes in rainfall patterns. Our results revealed that tuber enlargement in plants with different planting dates started depending on the days after planting rather than the day of the year. This indicates that day length had little effect on tuberization. The final tuber yield was rarely affected by low rainfall during the early growth stage, whereas severe yield reduction occurred when the rainfall stopped during the tuberization period. We conclude that shifting the planting date backward to adjust for delayed rainy seasons increases the risk of severe yield reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flour quality in the form of physicochemical and sensory properties is an essential parameter that will influence the design, process, and results of the processing of gembili flour derivative products. This study aims to evaluate flour's physical and chemical properties from white-fleshed gembili tubers (Yawal Porei) and purplishwhite-fleshed gembili tubers (Thai) and determine consumer preferences for the flour produced. The physical properties of gembili flour were analyzed, including yield, whiteness, and fineness modulus (FM). Meanwhile, the chemical composition of the flour analyzed includes moisture content, carbohydrates, protein, ash content and crude fibre. 35 untrained panellists were used in organoleptic tests to assess consumer preferences. The results show that the two gembili tubers produce flour with different physical and chemical properties. White-fleshed gembili flour has several advantages in terms of physical and chemical properties, namely yield (15.62% ± 0.41), whiteness (79.55 ± 0.98), carbohydrates (82.86% ± 0.21) and crude fibre (5.28% ± 0.61) which has the potential as a rice analogue, noodles, cake, fillers, and cookies. Meanwhile, purplish-white-fleshed gembili flour has a high protein content (5.40% ± 0.16) and ash content (6.75% ± 0.05), which has the potential as a bakery product. The FM of the two types of gembili flour was not much different and has a moisture content that meets the Indonesian National Standard, below 14.5%. The sensory assessment showed that the panellists preferred white-fleshed gembili flour to purplish-whitefleshed gembili flour. The sensory assessment showed that the panellists preferred white-fleshed gembili flour to purplish-white-fleshed gembili flour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research introduces a pioneering methodology and user-friendly online dashboard for examining population shifts during urban redevelopment in Bat Yam, Israel, part of the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area. The simulation tool, operated through scripts, predicts how redevelopment scenarios will impact household demographics over time. Its output is a population track-change CSV file detailing demographic changes. The accompanying online dashboard visually presents these changes, making the data accessible to policymakers and planners. The tool's consideration of environmental factors enhances its applicability in identifying vulnerable populations and resilient communities amidst urban renewal. This userfriendly approach, compatible with existing planning tools, underscores the article's significance in advancing urban planning practice and addressing societal needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice analogue of banggai yam (dioscorea alata) is made with the formula of banggai yam flour, mocaf flour and cornstarch in a ratio of 55:30:15. Furthermore, Banggai Yam's Analog rice (Dioscorea Alata) was given to respondents with prediabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of consumption of rice analogues of yam banggai on glucose levels of prediabetics. The research location is in Banggai Islands Regency. The number of respondents was 120 people and the intervention time was 2 weeks. The results showed that fasting blood sugar levels on pre and day 7 in both groups had differences or there was a decrease in fasting blood sugar levels with p values of <0.001 each. The greatest change was shown in the intervention/rice analog group with a difference of 24.55. While in the control group only amounted to 8,483. Reduction in Fasting Blood Sugar Levels on pre and day 14 p values of <0.001 each. The greatest change was shown in the intervention/rice analog group with a difference of 29.817. While the decrease in fasting blood sugar levels in the control group was 17,167. Comparison of day 7 and day 14, the two groups had differences or there was a decrease in fasting blood sugar levels with a p value of <0.001 each. Greater changes were shown in the control/brown rice group with a difference of 8.683. While the decrease in fasting blood sugar levels in the intervention group was 5,267. Thus, rice analogue of Banggai yam (dioscorea alata) as local food has a significant influence on reducing blood sugar levels of prediabetes mellitus sufferers in Banggai Islands district. The use of rice analogues of Banggai Yams (Dioscorea Alata) can be developed as functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is an important tuber crop consumed globally. However, stable yam production faces challenges from a variety of diseases caused by fungi, nematodes, viruses, and bacteria. Prominent diseases such as anthracnose, leaf spot, yam wilt, dry rot, and crazy root syndrome, currently pose serious threats to yam yields. These diseases not only result in quality degradation but also cause great economic losses. This review summarizes the damages, symptoms, causal agents, and epidemic factors of major yam diseases. It also outlines a comprehensive disease control strategy that includes the use of resistant varieties, proper crop rotation, sanitation measures, and the application of agrochemicals and biocontrol agents. Additionally, this review addresses future perspectives on risk factors and knowledge gaps, aiming to serve as a reference for in-depth research into advanced disease monitoring and control technologies for yams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring genetic gain is crucial to ensure breeding programs' effectiveness and identify potential challenges and areas for their improvement. Our study provides a first overview of the trends in genetic gain for tuber yield and disease resistance traits in the IITA's (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture) yam breeding program. We used historical data (2010–2022) from multiple generations of past breeding cycles evaluated at 31 sites in the white Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir) breeding pipeline and 28 sites in the water yam (Dioscorea alata L.) breeding pipeline of IITA and its national partners in West Africa. Our result shows positive genetic trends in fresh tuber yield while recording a gain of 1.38% or 99.17 kg ha−1 per year in the white Guinea yam and 2.18% or 252.41 kg ha−1 per year in the water yam breeding pipelines. Genetic trends for virus and anthracnose resistance were in the desired direction but negligible in white Guinea yam, while significant for virus and nonsignificant for anthracnose resistance in water yam. Our findings indicate that while the breeding program has succeeded in enhancing tuber yield, post‐harvest tuber dry matter content and disease resistance (yam mosaic virus and anthracnose) did not follow a similar trend in the material being developed. This implies that the yam breeding program needs to strike a balance between various traits, ensuring that increased yield does not come at a cost to food quality or disease resistance. Our results highlight the importance of continually monitoring and assessing the performance of a breeding program and making informed decisions about which traits to focus on for future improvement. Core Ideas: Periodic monitoring of genetic gain is crucial to making informed decisions about which traits to focus on.Yam breeding program needs to strike a balance between various traits for ensuring sustained genetic gain.High‐quality historical trial data crucial for assessing genetic gain trends in breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dioscorea rotundata Poir is a primary source of carbohydrate in most African homes, where it is consumed in various forms. This research focuses on the identification of the prevalent fungal isolate responsible for the rot of yam in Calabar metropolis and the effect of these fungi on the nutritional composition of white yam. A survey of the major markets (Akim, Marian, Mbukpa and Watt) showed that the major fungi responsible for the soft rot of yam included Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Fusarium oxysporium, Penicillium notatum and Rhizopus stolonifer. Aspergillus niger recorded the highest incidence, occurring in all the samples from various locations. The result of the pathogenicity test, proved that Aspergillus niger, Penicillium notatum and Rhizopus stolonifer were the major causes of rot in Calabar metropolis. The proximate analysis of the healthy tubers and those inoculated with Aspergillus niger, Penicillium notatum and Rhizopus stolonifer showed that the infection by these fungal isolates caused significant changes in the nutrient composition of the tubers. The total moisture content of the inoculated tubers increased within a range of 65.43±0.35 - 70.01±0.05% as compared to 59.59±0.12% in the control experiment. The carbohydrate content decreased significantly from 27.87±0.50% to a range of 18.11±0.36 - 22.68±0.28%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dioscorea bulbifera L. is well known for its diverse chemical composition and medicinal applications. • This systemic review covers the ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacological importance and toxicity of D. bulbifera L. • Various clinical studies included in this review validate the folk usage of this herb. • The findings presented herein provide a stepping stone for future investigations into the mechanism of action of the formulations or metabolites derived from it and delve into their potential as pharmaceutical agents. Dioscorea bulbifera L. (Dioscoreaceae) is extensively being used in African, Chinese and Indian traditional medicinal systems since ages. It is an ingredient in many herbal and Ayurvedic preparations that are used against various ailments. The current study is aimed to systematically review and document findings on ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, nutritive value and toxicity of the herb. The study is intended to overcome the inconsistency between the traditional and pharmacological applications of the herb concerning its folkloric use and offer novel insights for future researchers. The literature was systematically collected from various offline and online sources using relevant keywords. Electronic databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Springer Online, Research Gate, Scopus etc. were used to retrieve the relevant information. D. bulbifera L. is widespread in tropical and temperate regions of Asia, Africa and America. In traditional medicinal systems, it is used widely to cure sore throat, skin diseases, ulcers, boils, piles, pain, inflammation, dog bites, snake bites, food poisoning, asthma, cough, tuberculosis, cold, jaundice, malaria, typhoid of children, contraceptives, diabetes, ophthalmia, pink eye conjunctivitis etc. Among bioactive constituents, aglycone types of steroidal saponins dioscorin(e), dioscin(e), diosbulbin, and diosgenin possess significant biological activities. The chemical structures of the phytoconstituents presented in this review are drawn using ChemDraw Ultra software. The clinical studies included in this review have been performed to validate the folk usage of this herb. However, more studies are required to be done on scientific and clinical aspects to support its therapeutic applications. The updated information provided in this systematic review would open new perspectives for performing in-depth analysis of pharmacological research in future. The study would be useful for improving the clinical use of the herb and is surely going to bridge a gap between the traditional and modern use of scientific research for future researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of natural fibers instead of synthetic fibers has become a hot topic in the reinforced composite manufacturing industry. However, there are considerable differences in the mechanical properties of natural fibers cited in the literature. These differences could be due to the prevalent use of monothetic analysis. In this paper, the use of a simplified Taguchi technique in novel Dioscorea alata stems fiber processing is proposed to allow for simultaneous evaluation of control parameters such as treatment type, harvest condition, gauge length and chemical treatment temperature to determine the optimal conditions for fiber tensile properties. These fibers were extracted from the stem by means of water retting method before chemical treatment. The tensile properties were determined as per ASTM D3822/D3822M-14. Non-destructive examinations were employed to look into the chemical make-up, thermal, crystalline and morphological characteristics of the fibers. The test results showed an optimum tensile strength of 151 MPa and tensile modulus of 5709.5 MPa. Density was 0.4 g/cm3 while cellulose, lignin, moisture, hemicellulose and ash contents were 13.1 %, 10.3 %, 9.7 %, 5.0 % and 8.2 % respectively. The treated fibers were thermally stable till 320 °C. The properties of Dioscorea alata stem fiber (DASF) were found to be promising when compared to existing natural fibers, making it a viable candidate for composite material reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diosgenin is an important steroidal precursor renowned for its diverse medicinal uses. It is predominantly sourced from Dioscorea species, particularly Dioscorea zingiberensis. Dioscorea zingiberensis has an ability to accumulate 2–16% diosgenin in its rhizomes. In this study, a diverse population of 180 D. zingiberensis accessions was used to evaluate the genomic regions associated with diosgenin biosynthesis by the genome wide association study approach (GWAS). Results: The whole population was characterized for diosgenin contents from tubers by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The individuals were genotyped by the genotyping-by-sequencing approach and 10,000 high-quality SNP markers were extracted for the GWAS. The highest significant marker-trait-association was observed as an SNP transversion (G to T) on chromosome 10, with 64% phenotypic variance explained. The SNP was located in the promoter region of CYP94D144 which is a member of P450 gene family involved in the independent biosynthesis of diosgenin from cholesterol. The transcription factor (TF) binding site enrichment analysis of the promoter region of CYP94D144 revealed NAC TF as a potential regulator. The results were further validated through expression profiling by qRT-PCR, and the comparison of high and low diosgenin producing hybrids obtained from a bi-parental population. Conclusions: This study not only enhanced the understanding of the genetic basis of diosgenin biosynthesis but also serves as a valuable reference for future genomic investigations on CYP94D144, with the aim of augmenting diosgenin production in yam tubers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most rheological analyses in yam have been done on starch gels, which requires starch extraction from the tubers. In situ rheology bypasses the need of starch extraction and relies on the original cell structure and complex matrix organization under stress or strain. Dynamic rheological properties of tuber from 16 accessions belonging to four yam species (Dioscorea rotundata, D. alata. D. bulbifera and D. dumetorum) were investigated for potential use as a medium throughput phenotyping screening tool that can indicate the quality of yam food products or their industrial potentials. Results: Rheographs of the tubers illustrated differences in the structure of D. bulbifera compared to other yam species. High initial storage modulus (G′) of yam parenchyma indicated tubers with strong and rigid structure which do not lose their structural integrity easily on heating. Dioscorea rotundata and D. alata varieties exhibited a lower temperature at which gelatinization took place (Tgel) equivalent to the irreversible transition during starch gelatinization (75.3 and 79.8 °C) and took shorter time (867 and 958 s, respectively) to reach the G′ maximum, compared to other species. The stress relaxation test showed that the higher the dry matter of the tubers, the higher the work to rupture the structure. Conclusion: Rheological characteristics G′, loss modulus (G″), swelling capacity and Tgel showed potential as suitable quality indicators for yam products. In situ rheological characterization of yam tubers could be used as an instrumental screening tool to phenotype for quality in yam products. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]